Industry Links

RVIA Economic Impact Study

The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association commissioned an Economic Impact Study on the RV industry, released on June 7, 2016. The study found that the RV industry contributes about $49.7 billion in economic output or 0.28 percent of the Gross Domestic Product. Through its production and distribution linkages, the industry impacts firms in 426 of the 440 sectors of the United States economy.

Nationwide, the industry is responsible for 216,170 jobs, both directly and inderectly, creating an economic impact of $37.5 billion. The full study results, along with each individual state and congressional district's economic impact is available on the website by clicking here .

KOA Care Camps Sets New Attendance Record

Kampgrounds of America’s annual Care Camps Big Weekend set a new camper attendance record May 12-13, drawing about 4 percent more camping families than the event brought to participating KOAs in 2016.

The Care Camps Big Weekend, now in its 14th year, is a major fundraising event for KOA Care Camps, a network of 128 specialized, weeklong summer camps for children battling cancer and their siblings.

Campers who stayed as paying guests at the 400 participating KOAs on Friday, May 12 received a night of camping on Saturday, May 13 for just $10. KOA Care Camps receives all of the fees collected on Saturday, May 13. The funds help provide the Care Camps experience to deserving children free of charge each summer.

About 11,800 camping families stayed at participating KOAs during the May 12-13 event this year, compared to the previous record of 11,040 families in 2016. A total of 10,761 families participated during the annual event in 2015.

“It’s gratifying to see that our campers want to take part in helping these children in need, and helped raise nearly $118,000 in a single weekend to help send as many children as possible to these wonderful camps,” KOA President and CEO Pat Hittmeier says.

The cost to send each child to a Care Camp is nearly $2,000, so KOA and its campground owners raise funds throughout the year to help the charity, including through charity auctions, barbecues and pancake breakfasts.

“The need never stops, and neither do our great KOA owners and their staffs,” Hittmeier says. “It is a wonderful charity and a great cause.”

Last year, the KOA Care Camps Trust raised nearly $1.4 million that was distributed to member Care Camps throughout North America. Find out more about KOA Care Camps, or make a donation today at www.koacarecamps.org.